Winnipeg Filipinos 'berserk' for Journey singer Arnel Pineda

Members of Winnipeg's Filipino community were eager to see the lead singer of Journey, Arnel Pineda, perform live at the MTS Centre on Monday night.

Pineda's rags-to-riches story, from living in poverty in the Philippines to becoming the new front man of a legendary classic rock band, has inspired his fellow Filipinos around the world, including those living in Canada.

"The Filipino community is just — they're just going berserk at it," Chester Pangan, host of the Good Morning Philippines show on Winnipeg radio station CKJS, said earlier on Monday.

"Every time he goes out, it doesn't matter where he is around the world … he absolutely has to make sure that everybody knows where he's coming from and that he's Filipino," he added.

Manitoba is home to about 70,000 Filipinos, making it one of the largest populations in Canada.

Pineda's story has also inspired aspiring Filipino musicians like Alfie Mella.

"I think it's a big contribution to the Filipino culture and music as a whole," he said.